Camera with device for identifying used film magazine

ABSTRACT

A camera capable of automatic film rewinding into the magazine, comprises an information recording device for recording at least information on use in an information recording portion formed at a pre-determined position of the magazine loaded in the magazine chamber of the camera, an information detecting device capable of detecting recorded information of the magazine when it is loaded, a prohibition device for prohibiting the photographing operation in response to a detection signal corresponding to information, indicating that all the film is already used, detected by the information detecting device and a control device for controlling the information recording device, information detecting device and prohibition device in such a manner that the detection by the information detecting device is conducted prior to the recording of information of use by the information recording device, and that the photographing operation is prohibited in response to the detection of information indicating that all the film is already used.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/646,812 filed May 21,1996, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/451,054 filedMay 25, 1995 (abandoned), which is a division of application Ser. No.08/351,145 filed Nov. 30, 1994 (abandoned), which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 08/247,392 filed May 23, 1994 (abandoned), which isa continuation of application Ser. No. 08/141,694 filed Oct. 26, 1993(abandoned), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/961,345filed Oct. 15, 1992 (abandoned), which is a division of application Ser.No. 07/747,458 filed Aug. 12, 1991 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,365), which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 07/465,310 filed Jan. 12, 1990(abandoned), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/321,793filed Mar. 10, 1989 (abandoned).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera utilizing a film magazine, andmore particularly to a camera provided with a device for identifyingwhether the loaded film magazine is already used or not yet used.

2. Related Background Art

In a camera utilizing a film magazine, and in rewinding the photographicfilm after picture taking, there may result light leak from the filmslot of the magazine if the leader portion of the film (or leading endportion thereof) is rewound into the magazine. For this reason there isalready known a camera with an automatic rewinding stopping device forterminating the rewinding operation without complete rewinding of theleading end portion of the film into the magazine, as disclosed in theJapanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 54-164122, or a camera with anautomatic rewinding stopping device capable of selecting whether or notto rewind said leader portion into the magazine as disclosed in theJapanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-232433.

However, a magazine, which is subjected to rewinding operation in therewinding device of a camera as explained above with the leader portionremaining outside the magazine, is difficult to identify as to whetherit is already used or not yet used, so that a used magazine may beloaded again in the camera and used anew in the photograph taking. U.S.Pat. No. 4,678,300 discloses attaching a mark to the magazine,indicating that said magazine is already used, but the user may loadsuch magazine again into the camera for photograph taking, overlookingthe presence of said mark. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,300, the mark isattached to the magazine when the rear cover of the camera is closed.Thus, if the magazine is unloaded from the camera without exposure ofall or a portion of the film, the mark will nevertheless indicate thatthe magazine is already used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the foregoing, an object of the present invention isto provide a camera with rewinding function for the photographic filminto a magazine, capable of discriminating in loading a magazine in thecamera whether the magazine is already used or not yet used, and, incase of an unused magazine, recording information of use in apredetermined position of the magazine when it is taken out from thecamera, and prohibiting the photographing operation if all the film isalready used.

The above-mentioned object can be attained according to the presentinvention by a camera capable of automatic film rewinding into themagazine, comprising information recording means for recording at leastinformation on use in an information recording portion formed at apredetermined position of the magazine loaded in the magazine chamber ofthe camera; information detecting means capable of detecting recordedinformation of the magazine when it is loaded; prohibition means forprohibiting the photographing operation in response to a detectionsignal corresponding to information, indicating that all the film isalready used, detected by the information detecting means; and controlmeans for controlling said information recording means, informationdetecting means and prohibition means in such a manner that thedetection by the information detecting means is conducted prior to therecording of information of use by the information recording means, andthat the photographing operation is prohibited in response to thedetection of information indicating that all the film is already used.

Also, in accordance with the invention, a camera capable of arbitraryrewinding operation characterized in that, under the control of thecontrol means, the information recording means records the number offrames at the rewinding in a predetermined position of the magazine inresponse to the actuation of a rewinding member, that the film isautomatically wound to a frame next to said frame number when saidmagazine is re-loaded, and that the information of use is recorded whenall the frames of the film are wound.

According to the present invention, the information of use is recordedon the magazine of which all the frames of the film are already used,before it is taken out of the camera, and the photographing operation isprohibited if the information detecting means detects the information ofuse on the magazine loaded in the camera. Consequently the magazine withthe leader portion of the film remaining outside can be identified as towhether it is already used or not, and the danger of doubled use can beavoided.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, will become fully evident from the followingdescription to be taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a magazine chamber constituting amain part of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of electric circuits of the embodiment shownin FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views showing the function of a rear cover lockshown in FIG. 1, respectively showing a locked state and an unlockedstate of the rear cover;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention in which the rear cover is opened;

FIG. 7 is a partially cut-off lateral view of a rear cover unlockingmechanism shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of thedetector;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example of a release prohibitingmechanism;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of electric circuits of the second embodimentshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a magazine chamber, with the closedrear cover, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the function of the second embodimentshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a drop-in loading camera, with the openrear cover, constituting a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a magazine chamber of said thirdembodiment, with the rear cover closed after the loading of themagazine;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of said magazine chamber at theremoval of the magazine;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of electric circuits of the third embodimentshown in FIG. 13; and

FIGS. 17 and 17A-C are a flow chart showing the function of the thirdembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now the present invention will be clarified in detail by embodimentsthereof shown in the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the principalpart of a magazine chamber of said embodiment, with the rear coverclosed.

Referring to FIG. 1, a magazine 2 loaded in a magazine chamber 1A of thecamera body 1 is provided, on a face 2a behind the film slot (lip), withan information recording portion 2A to be magnetized by magneticinduction. On the rear face of a rear cover 3, opposed to saidinformation recording portion 2A, there are provided, as shown in FIG.2, an electro-magnet 4 for magnetization and a magnetic detectingelement 5 such as a Hall effect device in mutually close relationship,and said electromagnet 4 constitutes information recording means.

The rear cover 3 is supported by the camera body 1 by means of a hinge(not shown), and a locking hook 6 and a pin 7 for actuating a normallyclosed rear cover switch Sw1 fixed on the camera body 1 protrude fromthe internal face of the rear cover 3, at an end thereof. Said rearcover switch Sw1 is opened by sa id pin 7, when the rear cover 3 isclosed, to produce a rear cover signal.

A lock member 10, having a hook 10a capable of engaging the rear coverhook 6 when the rear cover 3 is closed, is provided with a pair ofstraight grooves 10b respectively engaging with pins 11, 12 fixed on thecamera body 1, whereby said lock member 10 is rendered slidable betweenan upper position in which the hook 10a engages with the rear cover hook6, and a lower position in which said hooks are disengaged. Said lockmember 10 is constantly biased upwards (as shown in FIG. 1), by atension spring 13.

Said lock member 10 is further provided with a finger button 14 forlowering the lock member 10 against the biasing force of the tensionspring 13, and is further provided, on a lateral face thereof, with ashoulder portion 10c and a slope portion 10d for engaging with a lever15 to be explained later, and a slope portion 10e and a flat portion 10ffor engaging with a second engaging pin 21B to be explained later.

An engaging lever 15, for maintaining the lock member 10 in the loweredposition against the biasing force of the tension spring 13 there byprohibiting the locking of the rear cover 3, is rotatably supported by ashaft 16 fixed on the camera body 1 and is clockwise biased by a tensioncoil spring 17. Said lever 15 is provided with a hook 15a for engagingwith the shoulder 10c of the lock member 10 and an arm 15b, capable ofengaging with a first engaging pin 21A fixed on a release lever 20.

The release lever 20 for releasing the engagement of the engaging lever15 is rotatably supported also by the shaft 16 supporting said engaginglever 15, and is biased anticlockwise by a tension coil spring 22. Saidrelease lever 20 is rotatable between an anticlockwise rotated firstposition in which the engagement of the engaging lever 15 is released bythe contact of the first engaging pin 21A with the arm 15b of theengaging lever 15, and a clockwise rotated second position in which thefirst engaging pin 21A is separated from the arm 15b. A second engagingpin 21B, fixed at the lower end 20a of the release lever 20, can engagewith the slope portion 10e and the flat portion 10f of the lock member10 at the movement thereof from the lower position to the upper positionby the biasing force of the tension spring 13.

At the upper end of the release lever 20, there is provided an armature24 to be attracted by a first combination magnet 23 fixed on the camerabody 1. Said first combination magnet 23 is a so-called off type magnetwhich normally attracts the armature 24 by the magnetic force of apermanent magnet, but said magnetic force is cancelled by theenergization of a coil by a control circuit 51, in response to a signalfrom a magazine discriminating circuit 50 (FIG. 3) including a magneticdetecting element 5, said signal indicating the absence of magnetizationin the information recording portion of the magazine 2. The biasingforce of the tension coil spring 22 for the release lever 20 is strongerthan that of the tension coil spring 17 for the engaging lever 15, andthat of the tension coil spring 13 for the lock member 10 is evenstronger than that of said spring 22.

A pressing lever 30, provided at an end thereof with a pressing portion30a protruding in the magazine chamber 1A of the camera body 1, isrotatably supported by a shaft 31 fixed on the camera body 1, and isconstantly biased clockwise by a strong tension coil spring 32 wherebythe pressing portion 30a protrudes into the magazine chamber when themagazine is not loaded therein. A magazine switch Sw2 fixed on thecamera body 1 is opened by the displacement of the pressing portion 30aby the loading of the magazine 2 against the biasing force of thetension spring 32, thereby releasing a magazine loading signal. At theother end of the pressing lever 30 there is provided an armature 34 tobe attracted by an off-type second combination magnet 33, which is fixedon the camera body and is turned off thereby terminating the attractionof the armature 34, when the magnetic detecting element 5 detects analready magnetized recording portion 2A, or a used magazine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electric circuits of the firstembodiment explained above. A film rewinding unit 53 is provided with aknown film end detecting device (not shown), and sends a completionsignal to a control circuit 51 when the rewinding operation is completedexcept the leader portion of the film.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the function of the rear cover lock,respectively in a locked state and an unlocked state. In the followingthere will be explained the function of the above-explained embodiment,with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 4 shows a state immediately after the film rewinding, wherein thelock member 10 is in the upper position, and the rear cover hook 6engages with the hook 10a of the lock member 10. The rear cover switchSw1 is maintained open by the pin 7 of the rear cover 3, whereby a rearcover signal, indicating the closed state of the rear cover 3, is sentto the control circuit 51 shown in FIG. 3. Also the second engaging pin21B of the release lever 20 engages with the flat portion 10f of thelock member 10, and the armature 24 on the release lever 20 is attractedby the first combination magnet 23.

In a state immediately after the rewinding shown in FIG. 4, the magazineswitch Sw2 is open because the pressing portion 30a of the pressinglever 30 shown in FIG. 1 is pressed by the magazine 2, whereby amagazine signal, indicating the loaded state of magazine, is sent to thecontrol circuit 51. Also the armature 34 on the pushing lever 30 isattracted by the second combination magnet 33.

By pressing the finger button 14 downwards, the lock member 10 descendsagainst the biasing force of the tension spring 13, whereby the hook 15aof the engaging lever 15 moves on the slope portion 10d of the lockmember 10 against the biasing force of the tension spring 17. When thelock member 10 reaches the lower position shown in FIG. 5, the engaginglever 15 rotates clockwise by the biasing force of the tension spring17, thereby engaging with the shoulder portion 10c of the lock member10. Consequently, even after the finger is lifted from the button 14,the lock member 10 remains in the lower position. Simultaneously thehook 10a of the lock member is disengaged from the rear cover hook 6,whereby the rear cover 3 is unlocked and can be opened. Also, the flatportion 10f of the lock member 10 moves downwards and is separated, asshown in FIG. 5, from the second engaging pin 21B of the release lever20. The release lever 20 remains still, however, because the armature 24is attracted by the first combination magnet 23. When the rear cover 3is opened, the pin 7 is lifted from the rear cover switch Sw1 to closesaid switch Sw1, whereby the rear cover signal, indicating the closedstate of the rear cover 3, is terminated. In response the controlcircuit 51 momentarily energizes the second combination magnet 33thereby releasing the armature 34. Consequently the pushing lever 30rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 by the biasing force of the tension spring32, thereby pushing the magazine 2 out and closing the magazine switchSw2. In response the magazine signal, indicating the loaded state of themagazine, is terminated.

When the magazine is loaded in the magazine and the rear cover 3 isclosed, the magazine 2 is pushed by the rear cover 3 and pushes thepressing portion 30a of the pushing lever 30, whereby said lever 30rotates anticlockwise. At the same time, the electro-magnet 4constituting the recording device 52 and the magnetic detecting element5 constituting the detecting device 50 are brought into contact with theinformation recording portion 2a of the magazine 2 as shown in FIG. 2.Also the movement of the pressing portion 30a opens the magazine switchSw2, thereby sending the magazine signal, indicating the loading of themagazine 2, to the control circuit 51. Also as the result ofanticlockwise rotation of the pushing lever 30 against the biasing forceof the tension spring 32, the armature 24 is attracted by the permanentmagnet of the second combination magnet 33.

Also, when the rear cover 3 is closed, the rear cover hook 6 moves to aposition capable of engaging with the hook 10a of the lock member 10, asrepresented by two-dot chain line B in FIG. 5. The pin 7 moves to aposition indicated by a two-dot chain line A in FIG. 5, thus opening therear cover switch Sw1, and sending a rear cover signal indicating theclosed state of the rear cover 3 to the control circuit 51.

In response to the signals from said rear cover switch Sw1 and magazineswitch Sw2, the control circuit 51 sends a control signal to a magazinediscriminating device 50, whereby the magnetic detecting element 5discriminates whether the information recording portion 2A ismagnetized, namely whether the magazine 2 is used or not, and sends theresult of said discrimination to the control circuit 51. In thefollowing there will be explained the function in case the magazine 2 isused or not used.

A. Case of Used Magazine

(1) If the magnetic detecting element 5 detects that the informationrecording portion 2A of the magazine is already magnetized, the magazinediscriminating circuit 50 sends a used signal to the control circuit 51.

(2) In response, the control circuit 51 momentarily energizes the secondcombination magnet 33, thereby releasing the armature 34.

(3) Being released from the attracted state, the pushing lever 30rotates clockwise by the biasing force of the tension spring 32, therebypushing the magazine 2 toward the rear cover 3.

(4) Since the rear cover 3 is already unlocked, the rear coverautomatically opens by the pressure of the magazine 2.

(5) Simultaneous with the opening of the rear cover 3, the magazine 2 ispushed out from the magazine chamber 1A, and the rear cover switch Sw1and the magazine switch Sw2 are closed.

B. Case of Unused Magazine

(1) If the magnetic detecting element 5 detects the absence ofmagnetization in the information recording portion 2A of the magazine 2,the discriminating circuit 50 sends an unused magazine signal to thecontrol circuit 51.

(2) In response the control circuit 51 momentarily energizes the firstcombination magnet 23.

(3) Thus the first combination magnet 23 is turned off, whereby thearmature 24 is released and the release lever 20 rotates anticlockwiseto the release position by the biasing force of the tension spring 22.

(4) The rotation of said release lever 20 causes the first engaging pin21A to press the arm 15b of the engaging lever 15 downwards, whereby theengaging lever 15 rotates anticlockwise, as indicated by a chain line Cin FIG. 5, against the biasing force of the tension spring 17.

(5) As the result, the hook 15a of the engaging lever 15 is disengagedfrom the shoulder 10c of the lock member 10, which is thus released fromthe engagement in the lower position.

(6) Thus the lock member 10 rises from the lower position shown in FIG.5 to the upper position shown in FIG. 4, by the biasing force of thetension spring 13.

(7) In the course of ascent of the lock member 10, the slope portion 10eof the lock member 10 comes into contact with and expells the secondengaging pin 21B of the release lever 20 which is in the releaseposition indicated by a chain line D in FIG. 5, thereby rotating saidrelease lever 20 clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 4.

(8) Upon ascent of the lock member 10 to the upper position shown inFIG. 4, the pins 11, 12 engage with the lower ends of the straightgrooves 10b.

(9) Also the second engaging pin 21B rides on the flat portion 10f ofthe lock member 10 upon the lock member 10 reaching the upper position,and the release lever 20 causes the armature 24 to be attracted by thefirst combination magnet 23 and to be maintained in the position shownin FIG. 4.

(10) Also, the ascent of the lock member 10 causes the hook 10a toengage with the rear cover hook 6, whereby the rear cover is locked inthe closed position as shown in FIG. 4.

(11) When the film in the magazine 2 is all used for photographing, thecontrol circuit 51 sends a signal to the film rewinding device 53,thereby effecting the film rewinding. Upon completion of said rewinding,the control circuit 51 receives a rewinding completion signal from thefilm rewinding device 53.

(12) In response, the control circuit 51 sends a signal to the recordingdevice 52, thereby momentarily energizes the electromagnet, thusmagnetizing the information recording portion 2A of the magazine 2. Inthis manner a used signal is recorded in said portion 2A.

(13) When the finger button 14 is pressed downwards to lower the lockmember 10 from the upper position in FIG. 4 to the lower position inFIG. 5, the hook 10a is disengaged from the rear cover hook 6 and therear cover 3 is unlocked.

(14) During the descent of the lock member 10, the slope portion 10dthereof engages with the hook 15a of the engaging lever 15, therebyrotating it anticlockwise against the biasing force of the tensionspring 17. When the hook 15a passes the slope portion 10d, said hook 15aengages with the shoulder 10c of the lock member 10, thereby maintainingthe lock member 10 in the lower position.

(15) When the rear cover 3 is opened, the rear cover switch Sw1 isclosed by the retraction of the pin 7.

(16) In response to the signal from said rear cover switch Sw1, thecontrol circuit 51 momentarily energizes the second combination magnet33, thereby releasing the armature 34.

(17) In response, the pushing lever 30 rotates clockwise by the biasingforce of the tension spring 32, thereby pressing the magazine 2 towardthe rear cover 3.

(18) By the pressure of the pressing lever 30, the magazine 2 is pushedout of the magazine chamber 1A, and the rear cover switch Sw1 issimultaneously closed.

The information of use is recorded, in the first embodiment explainedabove, in relation to the completion of film rewinding, but it can alsobe effected at the emission of a control signal in the period from thefilm winding to the completion of film rewinding, for example, at thecompletion of initial film advancement, completion of film advancementor start of film rewinding. Also the information recording portion 2A isnot limited to a magnetic recording medium magnetizable by magneticinduction, but can be a semiconductor memory such as an EPROM.

The foregoing first embodiment constitutes a camera capable ofdiscriminating an unused magazine, in which the information of use isattached to the film magazine by magnetic recording, but it is alsopossible to record said information by a physical deformation such asscratches, and to detect the presence of such recording. In thefollowing there will be disclosed a camera discriminating an unused filmmagazine, in which the information of use is recorded by a physicaldeformation.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a camera capable of discriminating anunused film magazine constituting a second embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrated with the open rear cover, and FIG. 7 is apartially cut-off lateral view of a unit for recording the informationof use.

Referring to FIG. 6, to a flat portion 102a, behind the film slot of afilm magazine 102 loaded in a magazine chamber 101A of the camera body101, is opposed to a rear cover 103. The cover is provided with aslidable plate 106 supporting a pressure member 104 with a pointed endfor recording the information of use on the magazine 2, and with adetector 105 for thus recorded information. As shown in FIG. 7, saidslidable plate 106 supports a locking plate 108 having two rear coverhooks 107, is slidably supported on a support plate 109 fixed on therear face of the rear cover 103, and is constantly biased toward rightby a tension coil spring 110. Said slidable plate 106 is provided withan integral finger button 112, penetrating through an elongated hole 111formed on the rear cover 103 and the support plate 109.

The locking plate 108 is provided with two guide grooves 114respectively engaging with two guide pins 113 fixed on the support plate109, and is biased to right by a tension coil spring 115 in FIG. 7. Therear cover hooks 107 formed on the locking plate 108 are adapted toengage with fixed hooks 116 formed on the camera body 1, when the rearcover 103 is closed. The locking plate 108 is further provided, at theleft-hand end in FIG. 7, with an arm 118 passing through a hole 117formed on the support plate 109 and being adapted to contact with anengaging projection 106a formed at the left-hand end of the slidableplate 106 when it is moved to left in FIG. 7. The amount a of leftwardmovement, in FIG. 7, of the slidable plate 106 is selected larger thanthe distance b between the pressure member 104 and the detector 105, andthe distance c between the arm 118 of the locking plate 108 and theengaging projection 106a of the slidable plate 106 is selected slightlylarger than the amount of engagement d of the rear cover hooks 107 andthe fixed hooks 116.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a photoelectric detector as an example of thedetector 105, in which a parallel light beam emitted from a light source105a through a lens 105b illuminates the flat portion 102a of the filmmagazine 102, and the reflected light is condensed by a lens 105c andreceived by a photoelectric converting device 105d such as a CCD fordetecting the linear mark M (scratch) recorded by the pressure member104. When the linear mark m recorded on the flat portion 102a of themagazine 102 is detected by the photoelectric detector 105, a shutterrelease button 120 provided on the camera body as shown in FIG. 9, islocked by a signal from said detector 105.

Referring to FIG. 9, a locking lever 121 is constantly biased clockwiseby a tension coil spring 122, and is provided, on an end thereof, withan armature 124 to be attracted by a locking magnet 123. When thearmature 124 is attracted by the energization of the magnet 123, thelocking lever 121 rotates anticlockwise against the biasing force of thetension spring 122 whereby the other end 121a of said lever enters anengaging groove 120a of the shutter release button 120 to prohibit thedownward movement thereof.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of electric circuits of the secondembodiment, wherein a rear cover switch Sw1 is a normally closed switchwhich is opened by the closing of the rear cover 103, as in the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 1. A magazine switch Sw2 is also a normallyclosed switch to be opened by the loading of the magazine 102 in themagazine chamber 101A, as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a state immediately after theloading of the magazine 102 and the closing of the rear cover 103, andFIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the function of the second embodiment.In the following there will be explained the function of the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 6, with reference to the flow chart shown inFIG. 12.

When a used or unused magazine 102 is loaded in the magazine chamber102A of the camera body 101 (step S1), and the rear cover 103 is closed,the slope portions of the rear cover hooks 107 come into contact withthe fixed hooks 116 of the camera body 101 whereby the locking plate 108moves to left in FIG. 7 against the biasing force of the tension spring115. The rear cover hooks 107 ride on the slope portions of the hooks116 and are engaged by said hooks, whereby the locking plate 108 movesto right to the original position by the biasing force of the tensionspring 115, thus completing the locking (step S2). At the same time therear cover switch Sw1 and the magazine switch Sw2 are both opened, thussending a rear cover signal and a magazine signal to a control circuit151. Also when the rear cover 103 is closed, the pointed end of thepressure member 104 is pressed against the flat portion 102a of themagazine 102, for forming a small scratch, as shown in FIG. 11. Howeveran axially long linear mark m (information of use) as shown in FIG. 6 isnot recorded unless the finger button 112 is moved to left in FIG. 7 tocause leftward movement of the pressure member 104 together with theslidable plate 106 against the biasing force of the tension spring 110.

After the lapse of a predetermined time (required for completion oflocking) from the reception of the rear cover signal and the magazinesignal from the switches Sw1, Sw2, the control circuit 151 sends anoutput signal to the magazine discriminating circuit 150, therebycausing the detector 105 to detect the presence of the linear mark m(step S3). The discriminating circuit 150 turns on the light source 105aof the detector 105, thereby illuminating the flat portion 102a with aparallel light beam as shown in FIG. 8. The reflected light is receivedby the photoelectric converting element 105d such as a CCD, and thepresence or absence of the mark m is identified from the output signalthereof and there is identified whether the magazine 102 is used or not.

If the loaded magazine 102 is unused, without the used mark m, themagazine discriminating circuit 150 sends an unused magazine signal tothe control circuit 151, which, in response, discriminates whether theshutter release button 120 is locked, namely whether the magnet 123 isenergized. In case of locked state, the control circuit 151 terminatesthe energization of the magnet 123, thereby terminating the locked stateand enabling the shutter releasing operation by the button 120 (stepS4). A first depression of the release button effects the initial filmadvancement (step S5), and then the photographing is conducted by eachdepression of the release button 120 (step S6). When the photographingoperations are completed for all the film in the magazine 102, thecontrol circuit 151 sends a rewinding signal to an automaticwinding/rewinding unit 152 to rewind all the film except the leaderportion thereof (step S7).

After the completion of film rewinding the finger button 112 is moved toleft in FIG. 7, whereby the slidable plate 106 moves to left by anamount c against the biasing force of the tension spring 110. Thus theengaging projection 106a of the slidable plate 106 meets the arm 118 ofthe locking plate 108, and a further movement of the slidable plate 106by amount d to left (see. FIG. 7) disengages the rear cover hooks 107from the fixed hooks 116, thus unlocking the rear cover. At the sametime the pressure member 104 moves to left by an amount a together withthe slidable plate 106 whereby a linear mark (scratch) m of a length ais formed on the flat portion 102a of the magazine 102 (step S8).

By opening the rear cover 103 while the finger button 112 is moved toleft by the amount a (unlocked state) (step S9), the magazine 102bearing the linear mark m can be taken out from the magazine chamber101A (step S10).

On the other hand, if the step S3 detects the linear mark m, thediscriminating circuit 150 sends a used magazine signal to the controlcircuit 151, which, in response, energizes the locking magnet 123,thereby rotating the locking lever 121 anticlockwise by the attractionof the armature 124 and locking the release button 120 to disable theshutter release operation (step S11). Then the finger button 112 ismoved to left, in FIG. 7, as in the step S8, thereby unlocking the rearcover 103 (step S12). In this step S12, however, the pressure member 104merely moves on the already formed mark m and does not doubly form thelinear mark m.

The leftward movement of the finger button 112 in FIG. 11 causes thedetector 105, fixed on the slidable plate 106, to move to left by anamount a together with the pressure member 104. Therefore the detector105 is positioned to the left of the used mark m, and does not detectsaid mark. Consequently the magazine discriminating circuit 150 sends anunused magazine signal to the control circuit 151, which, in response,deactivates the magnet 123, thereby terminating the release lockingstate (step S13).

Thereafter the sequence proceeds to the step S9 to effect the opening ofthe rear cover (step S9) and the taking out of the magazine (step S10).

If the finger is lifted from the finger button 112 without opening therear cover 103 after the step S8, the detector 105 automaticallyreturns, together with the slidable plate 106, to the original positionat right (shown in FIG. 11) by the biasing force of the tension spring110. In such case the already existing used mark m is detected, so thatthe sequence moves to the step S11 to lock the release button.

The second embodiment explained above can prevent doubled use of thefilm magazine with a relatively simple structure. However, the used markm is attached to the magazine even if an unused magazine is loaded, andthe rear cover is closed and then opened said magazine is taken outbefore the start of the photographing operation. In such case the usedmark m can be covered for example with paint.

FIG. 9 shows means for mechanically prohibiting the shutter releasingoperation, but it is also possible to provide the control circuit 151with a circuit for electrically prohibiting the shutter releasingoperation, thereby disabling said operation when the shutter releasebutton is depressed.

In the first and second embodiments explained above, when a filmmagazine is loaded in a camera capable of discriminating the usedmagazine, the information detecting means detects whether the used markis present in the predetermined position of the magazine, and, if theused mark is detected, the magazine is taken out and replaced. In caseof an unused magazine for which the used mark is not detected, normalphotographing operations are conducted, and, after the photographingoperations on all the frames, the film is rewound except the leaderportion thereof. In this case the information recording means records atleast the information of use in said predetermined position of themagazine in a period from the detection by the information detectingmeans to the opening of the rear cover, thereby enabling discriminationfrom an unused film magazine.

In case the information of use is recorded by magnetizing a magneticrecording portion of the magazine with an electromagnet, the detectortherefor is provided between or in the vicinity of the poles of saidelectro-magnet and effects the detecting operation before theenergization of said electromagnet, thus identifying whether themagazine is used or not.

If the information detecting means detects the information of use,prohibiting means disables the locking of the rear cover or the releaseprohibiting means disables the shutter releasing operation, therebyindicating that the loaded magazine is already used.

In a structure in which information recording means for attaching alinear mark on the magazine and information detecting means fordetecting said linear mark are provided on the slidable plate forunlocking the rear cover, said linear mark is attached at the unlockingof the rear cover, and the detection of said mark is effected by theinformation detecting means in a period from the magazine loading to thestart of photographing operation.

Consequently, for a used magazine, the shutter releasing operation islocked in response to the detection of the linear mark. Also in case ofan unused magazine, the mark is not detected, so that the shutterreleasing operation is enabled. The information recording means can beconstructed simply since said linear mark can be mechanically attachedby the movement of a pointed pressure member in the axial direction ofthe magazine.

The foregoing embodiments, shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, are applied to acamera in which the magazine is loaded from a direction perpendicular tothe film plane. In the following there will be explained, with referenceto FIG. 13, an embodiment of the present invention applied to aso-called drop-in loading camera in which the film magazine is loaded inthe axial direction of the rewinding shaft.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the state of magazine loading into the invertedcamera body, FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the magazine chamberafter the magazine loading and the closing of the rear cover, and FIG.15 is a cross sectional view of the magazine chamber at the taking outof the magazine.

Referring to FIG. 13, the camera body 201 is provided, at the bottomthereof, with a magazine chamber 201A into which the magazine 202 can beinserted in the axial direction Y, and a slot 201B for inserting theleader portion of the film. The rear cover 203 is so constructed as tocover the bottom also. A rear cover switch Sw1 (cf. FIG. 14) is anormally closed switch which is opened by the closing of the rear cover203. The magazine 202 is contained, in the magazine chamber 201A, asshown in FIG. 14, by a magazine holder composed of a semi-circularholder member 204 axially movable in the chamber and an engaging member205.

As shown in FIG. 15, the holder member 204 is provided, at an endthereof, with the engaging member rotatable about a pin shaft 205A. Whenthe magazine 202 is inserted into the holder member 204 and the engagingmember 205 is rotated anticlockwise in FIG. 15, an end hook portion 205Bthereof engages with the right-hand rim of the magazine 202 as shown inFIG. 14. The engaging member 205 is provided with a normally closedmagazine switch Sw2, which is opened by engagement with the cylindricalperiphery of the magazine 202 when it is engaged by the engaging member205. At the hinge between the engaging member 205 and the magazineholder 204, there is provided a click device comprising a click spring206 and a click ball 207, whereby the engaging member 205 can bemaintained in the engaging position shown in FIG. 14, when it is rotatedanticlockwise from the released position shown in FIG. 15.

The holder member 204 is provided thereunder with a projection 204Aengaging with a feed screw 207 driven by a motor M, whereby the holdermember 204 can be displaced axially by the rotation of said feed screw207. Also said projection 204A engages with and opens a first limitswitch Sw3 or a second limit switch Sw4, respectively when the holdermember 204 moves to the left-end position of the magazine chamber 201Aas shown in FIG. 14 or the right-end position as shown in FIG. 15.

The magazine 202 is provided, at the film slot thereof, with aninformation recording portion 202A magnetizable by magnetic induction,as shown in FIG. 13, and a magnetic head 210 adapted for contacting saidinformation recording portion 202A is supported on an end of a platespring 211, of which the other end is fixed on an arm 212a of a lever212. Said lever is rotatably supported by a shaft 213 fixed on thecamera body 201, and is constantly biased anticlockwise, so as toseparate the magnetic head 210 from the recording portion 202A, by atension coil spring 214. The other arm of the lever 212 is equipped withan armature 215 to be attractable by an electromagnet Mg against thebiasing force of the tension spring 214, whereupon the magnetic head 210is brought into contact with the magnetic recording portion 202A of themagazine 202 as shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of electric circuits in the third embodiment,in which a central processing unit CPU controls a motor circuit 251 forcontrolling the magazine moving motor M, a record detecting unit 252comprising an information recording circuit 252A and an informationdetecting circuit 252B, containing the magnetic head 210 in common, amagnet control circuit 253 for controlling the electromagnet Mg formoving the magnetic head 210 etc. The CPU also controls an automaticfilm wind/rewinding device 254 provided in the camera body 201 and adisplay device 255 for indicating the frame number etc., and receivessignals from a film movement detecting device 256 for detecting the endpoint of film advancement or rewinding, and a film end detecting device257. A film rewinding switch Sw5 enables film rewinding even before thecompletion of photographing on all the film, and is closed by thedepression of a rewinding instruction button 258 to enable the filmrewinding. The film movement detecting device 256 includes a sprocketwheel (not shown) engaging with the perforations of the film and adetector (not shown) for detecting the rotation of said sprocket wheel,and continues to produce pulse signals during the movement of film butterminates said pulse signals when the film is stopped. Thus, inresponse to the termination of the pulse signals, the CPU identifies thecompletion of winding of the entire film and instructs the filmrewinding. The film end detecting device 257 is of a known structurehaving a pin linked with a switch (not shown) and protruding in the filmpath, and detecting the film end by the protruding pin position in thefilm path after the passing of the film end. The CPU, in response to adetection signal from said device, terminates the film rewindingoperation.

FIGS. 17 and 17A-C are a flow chart showing the function from theloading of the magazine 202 to the removal thereof. In the followingthere will be explained the function of the third embodiment explainedabove, with reference to the flow chart.

When the rear cover 203 is opened as shown in FIG. 13, the rear coverswitch Sw1 is closed. The holder member 204 is at the right-end positionof the magazine chamber 201A as shown in FIG. 15, and the magazineswitch Sw2 is also closed. The first limit switch Sw3 is closed whilethe second limit switch Sw4 is opened. The electromagnet Mg does notattract the armature 215, so that the magnetic head 210 is in a releasedposition separated from the information recording portion 202A of themagazine 202.

In the above-explained state, the film magazine 202 is inserted into theholder member 204 in the unloading position in the magazine chamber 201Aas shown in FIG. 15, and the leader portion F of the film is insertedinto the film slot 201B shown in FIG. 13. Then the engaging member 205is rotated anticlockwise until the hook portion 205B engages with theright-end rim of the magazine 202, thereby fixing the magazine 202 inthe holder member 204. At the same time the magazine switch Sw2 isopened in contact with the cylindrical portion of the magazine 202. Alsothe engaging member 205 is retained by the click device (206, 207) anddoes not return clockwise.

An opening signal of said magazine switch Sw2 is sent to the CPU shownin FIG. 16, thereby activating the CPU. In response, the CPU immediatelysends a control signal to the motor control circuit 251, therebyactivating the motor M. The holder member 204 starts to move to left, inFIG. 15, by the rotation of the feed screw 207 driven by the motor M,thus initiating the loading of the magazine 202 (step S101). In responsethe second limit switch Sw2 is closed, and, in response to a signalthereof, the CPU sends a signal to the magnet control circuit 253,thereby energizing the electromagnet Mg. Thus the armature 215 isattracted by the electromagnet Mg, and the lever 212 rotates clockwiseagainst the biasing force of the tension spring 214, bringing themagnetic head 210 in contact with the information recording portion 202Aof the magazine 202 (step S102). In this state, the magnetic head 210 ismaintained in contact with said information recording portion 202A witha suitable light pressure, owing to the elastic force of the platespring 211.

After sending the signal to the magnet control circuit 253, the CPUsubsequently sends a signal to the information record/detecting device252 thereby causing, during the loading of the film magazine 202together with the holder member 204, the detecting unit to detectwhether the information recording portion already contains a used signalor information on the number of used frames (step S103). The obtainedresult is stored in the CPU.

When the holder member 204 is advanced to the left-end loaded positionshown in FIG. 14, the first limit switch Sw3 is closed, and, in responseto a signal therefrom, the CPU sends a signal to the motor controlcircuit 251, thereby stopping the motor M and completing the magazineloading (step S104).

Immediately after the motor stopping signal to the motor control circuit251, the CPU sends a signal to the magnet control circuit 253, therebydeactivating the electromagnet Mg, whereby the armature 215 is releasedfrom the electromagnet Mg. Thus the lever 212 rotates anticlockwise bythe biasing force of the tension spring 214, thus separating themagnetic head 210 from the information recording portion 202A (stepS105).

Then, in response to the closing of the rear cover 203 (step S106), therear cover switch Sw1 is opened to send a rear cover signal to the CPU.Thus, based on the signal detected and stored in the step S103, the CPUdiscriminates whether the loaded magazine 202 is unused or not (stepS107). The magazine 202 is identified as unused, if the informationrecording portion 202a does not contain the used signal or the signalindicating the number of used frames.

If the step S107 identifies the magazine 202 as unused, based on theinformation detected in the step S103, the CPU sends a signal to theautomatic wind/rewinding device 254 to advance the film by apredetermined amount, and interrupts the film winding (step S108) untilthe shutter release button is depressed.

Then, there is discriminated whether said button has been depressed(step S109), and, if depressed, a predetermined photographing process isexecuted (step S110). Upon completion of said photographing process, thefilm winding is started by an instruction from the CPU (step S111), andthere is discriminated whether the film has been advanced by a frame,based on the output signal of the film movement detecting device 256(step S112). After the film advancement of a frame, the number of usedframes is shown on the display device 255 (step S113), and the filmadvancement is terminated (step S114). Then the sequence returns to thestep S109 for awaiting the next shutter releasing operation.

If the amount of film advancement does not reach a frame in the stepS112, the film advancement is still in progress or is no longer possiblebecause all the frames of the film have been wound. Thus a next stepdiscriminates whether all the frames of the film have been advanced,based on the signal from the film movement detecting device 256 (stepS115), and the sequence returns to the step S112 if certain frames arestill left. On the other hand, if all the frames have been advanced, thefilm winding operation is terminated (step S116), and the CPU stores afact that all the frames of the film has been used (step S117).

On the other hand, when the step S109 identifies that the shutterrelease button has not been depressed, there is discriminated whetherthe rewinding instructing button 258, for rewinding the film before thephotographing of all the frames, has been depressed (step S118), and, ifnot depressed, the sequence returns to the step S109 to await theactuation of the shutter release button. In case of such intermediaterewinding, the number of frames shown on the display unit 255 in thisstate is stored in the CPU (step S119).

Upon completion of the memory operation in the step S117 or S119, theCPU sends an instruction to the automatic wind/rewinding device 254 torewind the film (step S120). The film rewinding operation is continuedto the completion, namely until a signal is produced from the film enddetecting device 257 (step S121). Upon completion of the film rewinding,a rear cover open signal flashes on the display 255, thereby requestingthe user to open the rear cover (step S140), and the sequence awaits theopening of the rear cover 203 (step S141). In response to the opening ofthe rear 203, the rear cover switch Sw1 is closed, whereby theelectromagnet Mg is energized to bring the magnetic head 201 intocontact with the information recording portion 202A of the magazine 202(step S123).

In succession to the energization of the electromagnet Mg, the motor Mis activated to initiate the unloading of the magazine (to right in FIG.14) together with the holder member 204 (step S124). In response thefirst limit switch Sw3 is closed, and the information of use, indicatingthat all the frames have been used or indicating the number of framesused, stored in the step S117 or S119, is recorded by the magnetic head210 onto the information recording portion 202A during the movement ofthe magazine 202 (step S125).

When the second limit switch Sw4 is opened by the movement of themagazine 202 together with the holder member 204, the motor M is stoppedand the unloading of the magazine is completed (step S126). In responseto the opening of said second limit switch Sw4, the electromagnet Mg isagain energized to attract the armature 215 against the biasing force ofthe tension spring 214, thereby separating the magnetic head 210 fromthe information recording portion 202A (step S127). Then the engagingmember 205 is rotated clockwise against the biasing force of the clickspring 206, thereby disengaging the hook portion 205B from theright-hand rim of the magazine 202, and said magazine 202 is taken outfrom the magazine chamber 201A (step S128). The magazine switch Sw2 isclosed by the clockwise rotation of the engaging member 205. In thismanner the sequence from the magazine loading to the taking out iscompleted.

On the other hand, if the step S107 identifies that the loaded magazine202 is not unused, there is then discriminated, according to theinformation already recorded in the information recording portion 202A,whether the magazine is used on all the frames or partially used andrewound (step S129), and, in case of a partially used magazine, the filmis advanced by a number of frames which is larger, by one, than thenumber of used frames recorded in the information recording portion 202A(step S130). Then the sequence proceeds to the step S109.

On the other hand, if the step S129 identifies an all used magazine, arear cover opening signal flashes on the display unit 255 to request theopening of the rear cover 203 (step S131), and the sequence then awaitssaid opening (step S132). When the rear cover 203 is opened, theelectromagnet Mg is not energized, and the motor M is activated inresponse to the opening of the rear cover switch Sw1, thereby startingthe unloading of the magazine 202 (step S133). In this case theunloading operation is conducted without the recording of theinformation of use on the information recording portion 202A, and themotor M is stopped in response to the opening of the second limit switchSw4 whereby the unloading of the magazine is completed (step S134). Thenthe sequence proceeds to the step S128 for taking out the magazine.

If the magazine switch Sw2 is opened with a finger after the removal ofthe magazine 202 in a state shown in FIG. 15, the holder member 204 ismoved to left by the motor M as shown in FIG. 14. Then, a repeatedactuation of the magazine switch Sw2 causes the reverse rotation of themotor M, whereby the holder member 204 is pushed to right, thus enablingthe loading of a magazine 202 in the holder member 204.

The drop-in loading camera of the above-explained third embodiment canrecord and reproduce various information in encoded form, as themagazine is supported by a magazine holder and is loaded into orunloaded from the magazine chamber with a constant speed. The recordingof the number of used frames enables the film to be advanced accordingto the number of used frames when said magazine is re-loaded in thecamera, so that the photographing operation from a next new frame of thefilm is performed, thus avoiding the waste of the film.

The magnetic head is so constructed as to record or reproduceinformation in contact with the information recording portion during themovement of the magazine holder but to be separated therefrom while themagazine holder is stopped, and is therefore prevented from the dangerof damage at the insertion or taking out of the magazine.

In the third embodiment, the information recording portion 202A of themagazine records the information whether the frames of the film are allemployed, partially used or unused, but it may be used also forrecording other identifying information, such as:

(1) information indicating that the photographing has been effected witha selected sensitivity other than the sensitivity specific to the film;

(2) information indicating the date of magazine loading into the cameraor unloading thereof;

(3) information identifying the photographer or the like; and

(4) information indicating the presence of any frame, and the positionof said frames, for which the range of trimming is designated, in caseof a camera for recording trimming information outside a film framesimultaneously with the photographing of said frame, in order to enableautomatic trimming at the film development and printing, as disclosed inJapanese Laid-Open Patent No. 54-26721, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,678,299 and4,678,300.

In the case (1), such other sensitivity selected on the camera can beidentified from the film sensitivity data among so-called DX data markedon the magazine, and can be recorded on the recording portion 202A.

In the case (2), the data of magazine loading or unloading, stored inthe CPU, can be recorded in said recording portion 202A.

In the case (3), the information to be recorded is selected in advanceand is recorded in the recording portion 202A.

In the case (4), the photographing operation with the designation oftrimming area is stored in the CPU and can be recorded in the recordingportion 202A. It is also possible to record the number and positions ofthe frames incorporating the trimming area. The recording portion 202Ais not limited to a magnetic recording medium, but can also be composedof a semiconductor memory such as an EPROM.

As explained in the foregoing, the camera of the present invention isprovided with recording means for recording at least the information ofuse of a film magazine in a period from the loading thereof to theunloading, and detecting means for detecting said information, wherebythe film magazine can be identified as to whether said magazine isalready used or not, and the photographing operation is disabled if analready used magazine is loaded in the camera, so that the possibilityof erroneous double exposures can be securely prevented.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a device constructed toload a cartridge accommodating photographic film therein, said methodcomprising:electrically driving said cartridge to a predeterminedloading position in said device; generating a signal indicating thatmovement of said cartridge to the predetermined position has beencompleted; and feeding photographic film from said cartridge oncondition that said signal has been generated.
 2. A method according toclaim 1, wherein said feeding is performed in response to a manualoperation by an operator when said signal has been generated.
 3. Amethod according to claim 1, further comprising manually initiating saiddriving of said cartridge to said loading position.
 4. A method ofoperating a device constructed to load a cartridge accommodatingphotographic film therein, said method comprising:electrically drivingsaid cartridge to a predetermined loading position in said device and;electrically feeding photographic film from said cartridge on conditionthat movement of said cartridge to said loading position has beencompleted.
 5. A method according to claim 4, including stoppingoperation of a cartridge driver that performs said driving, in responseto completion of movement of said cartridge to said loading position. 6.A method according to claim 4, wherein said feeding is performed inresponse to a manual operation by an operator when movement of saidcartridge to said loading position has been completed.
 7. A methodaccording to claim 4, further comprising manually initiating saiddriving of said cartridge to said loading position.
 8. A methodaccording to claim 4, wherein said device subjects photographic film fedoutside said cartridge to light.
 9. A method according to claim 8,wherein said device is constituted by a camera that subjectsphotographic film fed outside said cartridge to light in order to makean exposure.
 10. A method according to claim 4, wherein said cartridgeis driven with an electric actuator.
 11. A method according to claim 10,wherein said electric actuator is a motor, and a rotating force fromsaid motor drives a mechanism to move said cartridge.
 12. A method ofoperating a device in which a cartridge accommodating photographic filmtherein is loaded in a predetermined position, said methodcomprising:electrically rewinding photographic film from outside saidcartridge into said cartridge; generating a signal indicating thatrewinding of the film into the cartridge has been completed; andelectrically driving said cartridge from said predetermined position oncondition that said signal has been generated.
 13. A method according toclaim 12, wherein said driving is performed in response to a manualoperation by an operator when said signal has been generated.
 14. Amethod according to claim 12, further comprising manually initiatingsaid driving of said cartridge from said predetermined position.
 15. Amethod of operating a device in which a cartridge accommodatingphotographic film therein is loaded in a predetermined position, saidmethod comprising:electrically rewinding photographic film from outsidesaid cartridge into said cartridge; and electrically driving saidcartridge from said predetermined position on condition that rewindingof the film into the cartridge has been completed.
 16. A methodaccording to claim 15, including stopping operation of a film driverthat performs said rewinding, in response to completion of saidrewinding.
 17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said driving isperformed in response to a manual operation by an operator when saidrewinding has been completed.
 18. A method according to claim 15,further comprising manually initiating said driving of said cartridgefrom said predetermined position.
 19. A method according to claim 15,wherein said device subjects photographic film fed outside saidcartridge to light.
 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein saiddevice is constituted by a camera that subjects photographic film fedoutside said cartridge to light in order to make an exposure.
 21. Amethod according to claim 15, wherein said cartridge is driven with anelectric actuator.
 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein saidelectric actuator is a motor, and a rotating force from said motordrives a mechanism to move said cartridge.